Panelist: “Critical Reflections on the Buddhist Modernism Paradigm”
Buddhism in the West Unit
American Academy of Religion
San Antonio, TX (virtual), November 2021
“Mid-Century Modern: Jōdo Shinshū and the Making of American Buddhism”
Invited Lecture, the Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation
Buddhism in Contemporary Society, University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC (virtual), March 2021
“Mid-Century Modern: transnational Japanese American Buddhism”
Transnational Religious Expression: Between Asia and North America Seminar
American Academy of Religion
San Diego, CA, November 2019
“Artists, Activists, and Innovators: American Buddhists, Buddhist America”
Invited Lecture
Palo Alto Buddhist Temple Public Speakers Series
Palo Alto, CA, June 2019
“Mid-Century Modern: transnational Japanese American Buddhism”
Invited Lecture
Ryukoku University
Kyoto, Japan, May 2019
“The Stories We Tell: Making Meaning in the Study and Practice of Shin Buddhism”
IBS Winter Symposium
BCA National Council Meeting
Phoenix, AZ, March 2019
“Mid-Century Modern: race and religion in the construction of modern American Buddhism”
Buddhist Studies Group
Annual Meeting of the AAR Western District
Berkeley, CA, March 2018
Respondent: “Singing to Buddha: Buddhist Music in Contemporary Asia”
Association for Asian Studies Annual Conference
Washington, DC, March 2018
Respondent: “Religiosity and Social Consciousness in the Buddhist Churches of America”
IBS Winter Symposium
BCA National Council Meeting
Sacramento, CA, February 2018
Respondent: “Theory and Method in the Study of Transnational Religious Expression”
Transnational Religious Expression: Between Asia and North America Seminar
American Academy of Religion
Boston, MA, November 2017
Panelist: “Mochizuki’s Doctrinal History of Pure Land Buddhism in China”
International Association of Shin Buddhist Studies Annual AAR Symposium
Boston, MA, November 2017
“Mid-Century Buddhist Engagements in America: the Berkeley Temple Newsletter 1939-1953”
Ryukoku University Research Center for Buddhist Culture in Asia (BARC)
Kyoto, Japan, July 2017
“Scrambled Eggs: At the Intersection of Buddhist Economies and Knowledge Economies”
Economics and Capitalism in the Study of Buddhism Seminar
American Academy of Religion
San Antonio, TX, November 2016
“The Life of a Song: Or, Why Are We Singing ‘Buddha Loves You’?”
Panel: Transnational Buddhisms: Meditation, Music, Memory, and Mobilization
Buddhism in the West Group
American Academy of Religion
San Antonio, TX, November 2016
Keynote Speaker
Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple
Centennial Celebration
Denver, CO, October 2016
Respondent: Numata Lecture and 50th Anniversary of
Institute of Buddhist Studies
Berkeley, CA, August 2016
Presider: “Engaged Buddhism, US and Japan: Past, Present and Future”
Ryukoku University Research Center for Buddhist Culture in Asia (BARC)
International Workshop at Institute of Buddhist Studies
Berkeley, CA, March 2016
Presider: “Modern Constructions of Shin Buddhist Subjectivity”
Subjectivity in Pure Land Buddhism
XVII Biennial Meeting of the International Association of Shin Buddhist Studies
Berkeley, CA, August 2015
Dialogue Participant, respondent to keynote addresses by
David Vago and David McMahan
Mindfulness and Compassion: the Art and Science of Contemplative Practice
San Francisco, Ca, June 2015
“Japanese Buddhism in America”
Panel on Buddhism in America
2015 Hua Yen Symposium on Buddhism
Milpitas, Ca, February 2015
Presider: “Buddhism, Capitalism, and Consumer Culture”
Buddhism in the West Group
American Academy of Religion
San Diego, CA, November 2014
“The ritual use of music in US Jōdo Shinshū communities”
17th Congress of the International Association of Buddhist Studies
Vienna, Austria, August, 2014
“American Gāthā: the ritual use of music in US Jōdo Shinshū communities”
Invited Lecture
University of Nebraska Lincoln, March 18, 2014. [ listen to audio ]
“American Gāthā: Shifting Identities in US Shin Buddhist Music”
Panel: Creating and Negotiating New Forms of Buddhist Community, Identity, and Practice
Buddhism in the West Group
American Academy of Religion
Baltimore, MD, November 2013
Presider: “Boarding the Maṇḍala’s Gate: An Exploration of Science Fiction Encounters with Buddhism”
Religion and Science Fiction Group and Tibetan and Himalayan Religions Group
American Academy of Religion
Baltimore, MD, November 2013
Presider: “(Re)Imagining the Founder: Shinran in Modern Japanese History”
International Association of Shin Buddhist Studies Annual AAR Symposium
Baltimore, MD, November 2013
“From Gagaku to Calypso: Shifting Identities in US Shin Buddhist Music”
The Pure Land in Buddhist Cultures
XVI Biennial Meeting of the International Association of Shin Buddhist Studies
Vancouver, British Columbia, June 2013
Presider: “Blurred Borders: Pan-Asianism, Transnationalism, and Buddhist Identities”
Buddhism Section
American Academy of Religion
Chicago, IL, November 2012
“Buddhism in the American Media Imagination: the Tranquil Meditator”
10th DANAM Conference (DANAM2012)
Dharma Academy of North America
Chicago, IL, November 2012 [ listen to audio ]
“Contemporary Lay Practice in American Zen and Shin Communities”
Conversation with Daijaku Judith Kinst
Domestic Dharma: Beyond Texts, Beyond Monasteries
Institute of Buddhist Studies, Berkeley, 22 September 2012
“Sex, Lies, and Buddhism: Buddhism in the media imagination”
Conference on Spirituality, Political Engagement, and Public Life
Social Science Research Council
Columbia University, New York, June 2011
“Buddhism, pop-culture, and the homogenization of the Dharma”
XIV Biennial Meeting of the International Association of Shin Buddhist Studies
Kyoto, Japan, June 2009 [ download PDF ]
“Historical Development of American Shinshu Gāthās”
IBS Winter Symposium at the BCA National Council Meeting
Irvine, CA, February, 2009 [ view video ]
“The end of American Buddhism: toward a transnational perspective”
Buddhism in the West Consultation
American Academy of Religion
Chicago, IL, November 2008 [ download PDF ]
Moderator, Panel: “Challenging the Boundaries: Problems of Essentialization in the Studies of Asian American Religions”
Asian Pacific American Religions Research Initiative conference, (Re)Defining Religious Studies: The Next Decade of APARRI
Berkeley, CA, August 2008
“Taking Refuge in the Dharma: ritual and the study of Buddhism in the West”
XVth Congress of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, Ethnography Section
Atlanta, Ga, June 2008
“Reading the Dharma Talk as Ritual: a Status Report”
Buddhist Studies Group
Annual Meeting of the AAR Western District
Berkeley, Ca, March 2007 [ download PDF ]
“Sunday Morning Songs: English Language Gāthās in American Shinshu Temples”
XII Biennial Meeting of the International Association for Shin Buddhist Studies
Tokyo, Japan, September 2005
“Shin Dharma Net as Virtual Dōjō ”
XI Biennial Meeting of the International Association for Shin Buddhist Studies
Berkeley, Ca, September 2003
Invited lectures and speaking engagements:
Guest Lecturer: Mid-Century Modern Buddhism
Duke University
Durham, NC (virtual), October 12, 2021
“The Future of American Buddhism”
BCA Center for Buddhist Education
August 1, 2020 (virtual)
Dharma Talk: Bodhi Day Service
San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin
San Jose, CA (virtual), December 6, 2020
Guest Lecturer: South Asian Buddhism, East Asian Buddhism
Introduction to Asian and Oceania Cultures and Faith Traditions, FST
Berkeley, CA, March 17, 2015; March 31, 2015
Dharma Talk: Nirvana Day Service
San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin
San Jose, CA, February 15, 2015
“An Overview of US Buddhist Traditions”
BCA Ministers Continuing Education Program
Berkeley, CA, March 21, 2014
“Buddhism in America”
BCA Ministers Assistant Program
Berkeley, CA, December 12, 2013
“Buddhist History: US”
San Mateo Buddhist Temple study group
San Mateo, CA, December 4, 2013
Panel Presentation, Contemporary Buddhism and Islam
Religion and Globalization, Dominican University
San Rafael, CA, October 25, 2013
“An Introduction to American Buddhism”
International Ministers Orientation Program
Berkeley, CA, October 7, 2013
Dharma Talk: Autumn Ohigan Service
San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin
San Jose, CA, September 22, 2013
“American Buddhism: Challenges and Opportunities for Shin Buddhism in US”
BCA Ministers Assistant Program
Berkeley, CA, October 6, 2012
Guest Lecturer: “East Asian Buddhism”
Introduction to Asian and Oceania Cultures and Faith Traditions, PLTS
Berkeley, CA, April 12, 2012
Guest Lecturer: “East Asian Buddhism”
Introduction to Asian and Oceania Cultures and Faith Traditions, PSR
Berkeley, CA, November 16, 2010
“Buddhism in America”
BCA Ministers Assistant Program
Berkeley, CA, May 8, 2010